A question though, if I show up without a lawyer and try my luck, would I be able to appeal if I don't like the outcome?

I'm not all that familiar with VA's traffic laws, but if I'm not mistaken the first case is a civil matter and the second (reckless driving) would be a criminal matter. A criminal conviction will appear on your - you got it - criminal record. This will affect your insurance and might possibly affect job prospects in the future. I'll have to look up the statute, but I'm sure it's a misdemeanor and may even be a class 1 misdemeanor.

As for an appeal, it is my understanding that in VA you have 10 days from the date of your conviction to appeal to the circuit court. Unlike other appeals, in this case you would get the opportunity for a completely new trial; however, the penalty could be far worse the second time around - and the fees for circuit courts are normally higher than district courts.